Villarreal CF set an unwanted club record on Tuesday by suffering their seventh consecutive Champions League defeat, losing 3-2 to Borussia Dortmund at the Signal Iduna Park. This loss surpasses the previous negative mark of six straight defeats set during the 2011-2012 group stage.
How did the match in Dortmund unfold?
Íñigo Pérez's side put up a competitive performance in Germany, showing clear improvement from the 4-0 thrashing they suffered at the same venue last season. Villarreal created the two best chances of the first half through Georges Mikautadze and Tajon Buchanan. An injury to Dortmund's young Greek star Konstantinos Karetsas in the 27th minute appeared to be a favorable turn.
The game shifted after halftime. In the 53rd minute, a driving run from Maximilian Beier unsettled the defense and resulted in an own goal by Renato Veiga. Although Villarreal reacted and grew into the game, with Alberto Moleiro adding creativity in attacking midfield, they couldn't prevent Serhou Guirassy's double that sealed the result. A headed chance by Nicolas Pépé that sailed over the bar symbolized a night of missed opportunities.
What does this Champions League losing streak mean?
The Dortmund defeat is not an isolated incident. It marks Villarreal CF's seventh consecutive loss in Europe's premier competition. The streak began last season with defeats to Manchester City (0-2), Pafos (1-0), Borussia Dortmund (4-0), Copenhagen (2-3), Ajax (1-2) and Bayer Leverkusen (3-0).
This run breaks the club's previous historical low of six consecutive defeats during the 2011-2012 group stage against Bayern Munich, Manchester City and Napoli. Also, the team extends to nine matches their worst European run without a victory. Their last win in continental competition dates back to 2024, when they beat Olympique de Marseille 3-1 in the Europa League round of 16.
What is the team's current context in LaLiga?
The poor form in Europe compounds a difficult start to the domestic campaign. Villarreal CF currently sits 17th in the LaLiga EA Sports standings, with just two points from a possible twelve. Their record shows zero wins, two draws and two losses from the first four matchdays, with recent form reading LLDD.
In attacking and defensive terms, the team has scored six goals and conceded eight, giving them a negative goal difference of -2. This places them ten points behind leaders FC Barcelona, a considerable gap at this early stage of the championship. The absence of key players like Juan Foyth and Carlos Romero, who are on the injuries list, doesn't help turn the situation around.
What's next for Villarreal CF?
The immediate focus returns to LaLiga, where the team has an important fixture next weekend. Villarreal CF will host fourth-placed Real Betis at the Cerámica on September 14, 2026. This match represents a important opportunity to break the negative streak and secure a win that could boost the squad's confidence.
The full schedule of upcoming fixtures is available on the club's matches page. Meanwhile, the team must work to correct defensive errors and improve their finishing, key aspects that have hampered their results both in Europe and domestically. The upcoming clash against Betis will be the first test to see if the squad can respond to adversity.
